Case Wars: iPhone5 Otterbox Defender vs iPhone Otterbox Commuter Case

I was excited when the iPhone 5 was released. I’m always upgrading my phone just months before a new release. When the iPhone 4S came out however I decided to skip the upgrade, from what I had read it really didn’t have a lot of features I felt I needed. I was looking forward to the iPhone 5. When the news came out and pre-orders began I had initially decided to wait until the hype died down. That thought only lasted about three days and instead I placed my order on the 17th. Immediately after placing my order I began the search for an iPhone 5 case. After our iPhone accident many years ago I will not let my phone go unprotected. I turned to my favorite company Otterbox to find my iPhone 5 case! When I need to protect my electronics I LOVE to do so with Otterbox, the security allows me to feel comfortable letting my kids use my devices.

I asked what the difference was between the two, the main difference was the construction of the case and the level of surface that is protected.

The Commuter Series is a dual layer case, much like the Defender Series but in a reverse construction. There is a silicone layer that wraps around the device, providing shock absorption and port coverage. A polycarbonate shell forms the outer layer, making it more pocket and purse-friendly and providing additional drop protection. The Defender has three layers of protection including a polycarbonate skeleton that cushions the iPhone while the built-in screen protector prevents smudges and scratches. The outer layer wraps around the solid inner shell like an epidermis, creating a practically indestructible iPhone 5 case.

Since the Otterbox Commuter iPhone 5 Case was new to me I decided to try this one out first. Though it comes with a stick on screen protector I decided not to add this when trying it out. As soon as I put it on the phone I knew I missed my Otterbox Defender. Don’t get me wrong it is a great case. It was very similar to the case I had before I switched to the Otterbox Defender. It just felt less protected to me. I did like the outer layer being a hardshell case versus my previous Defender case having the silicone on the outside.

So despite the few things I had originally disliked about the Otterbox Defender I popped it on to see what I thought. Turns out the few things I disliked with the my previous Otterbox Defender had been changed with the iPhone 5 case. The two issues I had previous to this case were, the silicone would eventually appear warn and it the phone case just looked used. Also after a while the rubber plugs that protect your buttons, charging area, etc just stopped working as well. They would eventually just fall out and that would drive me crazy.

The Otterbox Defender iPhone 5 Case no longer has the rubber like silicone on the outside but it is a very nice looking type of material. I was really impressed with the changes and absolutely LOVE the new design. I opted for a solid black because I really like a sleek looking phone. I have dropped my phone once or twice with no problems. The Otterbox case definitely protects it. I was at the soccer field a couple weekends ago and pulled out my phone and a mother/daughter sitting next to me asked about my case. Turns out the daughter had just gotten the iPhone 5 case and within 3 days dropped it and cracked the screen. I told them I highly recommend an Otterbox and if they are looking for the best protection they should get the Defender.

I think both the Otterbox Defender iPhone 5 Case and the Otterbox Commuter iPhone 5 Case will protect your phone. Which one you like better depends on what you are use to or what you want for your phone. The biggest difference regarding appearance between the phones is the Defender covers up everything on the phone accept the actual screen. The Commuter covers up to the edge of the phone leaving the top and bottom void of any material. I thought this was something I didn’t like with the Defender but like I said I just feel that my phone is protected a lot better with the Defender.

You really can’t go wrong with any case from Otterbox!

Disclaimer: I received the above product(s) at no cost to me by the company or representing PR agency. All opinions are my own. You may read more of my disclosure here.

About Colleen Shibley

Colleen Shibley Mother to 3 kids, wife to an awesome & thoughtful husband, beach lover, book reader, working woman by day, and blogger by night. Blogging from sunny South Florida passionate about travel, good food, entertainment, and enjoying family time...[Read More...]

I used to have an Otterbox Defender for my iPhone and that thing rocked! Now that my girls are a little older and no longer throw my phone or put it in their mouths, I switched to a thinner Speck case.

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